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Duty to Promote Equality and Diversity

At Barnsley Academy, we are committed to promoting equality, celebrating diversity and ensuring that every member of our school community is treated with dignity and respect. We believe that all children and young people have the right to feel safe, valued and included, and we work hard to ensure our school environment reflects these principles every day.

Our commitment to equality and diversity underpins everything we do – from our curriculum and enrichment opportunities to our daily interactions, routines and policies.

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

As a UNICEF Gold Rights Respecting School, our commitment to equality, inclusion and diversity is firmly rooted in the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). These rights shape our policies, our curriculum and our daily practice, ensuring that every young person is respected, valued and able to thrive.

The following UNCRC articles directly inform our approach:

Article 2 – Non‑discrimination

Every child has the same rights, regardless of their race, gender, disability, language, religion, sexual orientation, or background. No child is ever treated unfairly at Barnsley Academy.

Article 3 – Best interests of the child

In all actions and decisions, the best interests of the child are our top priority.

Article 4 – Implementation of rights

We take all necessary steps to ensure that children’s rights are fully realised within school life, policy and practice.

Article 12 – Respect for the views of the child

Students are encouraged to express their views, and their opinions are taken seriously in decisions that affect them.

Article 14 – Freedom of thought, belief and religion

Every child has the right to think and believe what they choose and to practise their religion, as long as this does not infringe on the rights of others. We promote understanding, mutual respect and freedom of expression.

Article 19 – Protection from all forms of violence

We take active steps to protect students from harm, including physical, emotional and discriminatory harm.

Article 23 – Rights of children with disabilities

Children with disabilities have the right to live a full and dignified life and to be supported to participate actively in their school and community. Our SEND provision is built on inclusion, independence and equal opportunity.

Article 28 – Right to education

Every child has the right to an education. We ensure that all students have full access to learning, free from discrimination.

Article 29 – Goals of education

Education must develop children’s personalities, talents and abilities to the fullest. Our curriculum reflects diversity, encourages critical thinking and fosters respect.

Article 30 – Right to culture, language and religion

Every child has the right to learn and use the language, customs and religion of their family, even if these differ from the majority. We celebrate cultural diversity and work closely with EAL families.

Article 36 – Protection from exploitation

We take proactive steps to protect children from any form of exploitation or unfair treatment.

Support

Barnsley Academy is an inclusive school, committed to recognising the equal value of every member of our community. We aim to provide equality of opportunity for all and to promote positive relationships in every aspect of school life.

We recognise the vital role that education plays in promoting equality, inclusion and fairness. Our support for students is both proactive and responsive, ensuring that every young person can access the curriculum, feel valued and reach their potential.

Support for Students

We provide a wide range of support to meet the diverse needs of our students, including:

  • Specialist equipment and auxiliary aids where needed to access the curriculum
  • Support from external agencies where appropriate
  • Emotional support for students with SEND
  • Support from the ANC for home learners and those on blended packages
  • Enlarged or adapted materials when required
  • Access to an on‑site School Counsellor and our Wellbeing Team
  • Information for all staff on students with additional needs, including access to key data
  • Regular communication to ensure staff understand student needs
  • Curriculum planning and assessment that takes additional needs into account
  • Differentiated resources tailored to learning needs
  • Simplified and adapted language where required
  • Encouragement and facilitation of full participation in learning and practical activities
  • Support with behaviour management strategies
  • Support to help students manage emotions and stress
  • Support from Teaching Assistants in class and SEND teaching staff in groups or whole‑class settings
  • Clear strategies and monitoring procedures
  • Support through exam access arrangements where appropriate
  • Guidance and advice from our in‑school Careers Advisor
  • An open‑door approach with carers, encouraging collaboration and involvement

Promoting an Inclusive and Non‑Discriminatory Environment

We actively seek to provide a secure, welcoming and non‑discriminatory environment where all students can flourish. We do this by:

  • Promoting understanding and tolerance, including celebrations such as Black History Month, Pride and Anti‑Bullying Week
  • Working with United Learning to ensure the curriculum promotes equality for all
  • Providing equality of opportunity so everyone can realise their potential
  • Recognising and celebrating diversity, preparing students for life in a multi‑ethnic society
  • Employing staff from a range of nationalities
  • Engaging with external agencies to support EAL students and families
  • Translating key documents into relevant languages where possible
  • Delivering annual assemblies to reinforce messages of tolerance and harm reduction
  • Recording and reporting all hate incidents through CPOMS and to governors termly
  • Ensuring trained staff investigate and act on incidents appropriately
  • Having trained adult allies available to support LGBTQ+ students
  • Placing focused attention on the needs of specific groups to ensure equality of opportunity
  • Promoting pupils spiritual, moral, social and cultural development through Rights Respecting work, PSHCE and the Character Curriculum
  • Ensuring teaching materials in all subjects contain positive images of people with and without protected characteristics

Our Legal Duties

Barnsley Academy meets its statutory responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010. This includes our duty to:

  • Eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation
  • Advance equality of opportunity for all students
  • Foster positive relations between people of different backgrounds, identities and beliefs

We publish an Equality and Diversity Policy and Equality Objectives, which outline how we meet these duties. These documents are reviewed annually and are available on our school website.

Vision and Values

Barnsley Academy welcomes the opportunity to promote equality and works fully within the framework of the Equality Act 2010. As such, our aim is to:

  • Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Act
  • Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not
  • Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not

Under the Equality Act (2010), the following nine protected characteristics are recognised:

  • Race
  • Gender / sex
  • Disability
  • Marriage / civil partnership
  • Pregnancy / maternity
  • Religion and belief
  • Age
  • Sexual orientation
  • Gender reassignment

We are committed to ensuring that our policies, practices and environment uphold these principles and support the diverse identities within our community.

Equality in Practice

We promote equality and diversity across all areas of school life, including:

  • Curriculum – representing diverse cultures, identities and perspectives
  • SEND provision – ensuring fair and inclusive access for all
  • Pastoral care – supporting emotional wellbeing and individual needs
  • Admissions and attendance – without discrimination
  • Safeguarding – protecting all students from harm
  • Staff training – ongoing professional development on equality, inclusion and anti-discrimination
  • Student leadership – including student voice, ambassadors and Rights Respecting groups

We want every student to feel seen, heard and valued, and to feel proud of who they are.

Our Inclusive Ethos

We are proud to be a fully inclusive school where differences are recognised, respected and celebrated. At Barnsley Academy:

  • Every student is treated as an individual
  • Every student is supported to achieve their full potential
  • Every family is welcomed and valued
  • Every member of our community is expected to show respect for others

We challenge prejudice, discrimination and inequality whenever we encounter it, and we promote understanding and kindness through all aspects of school life.

Equality Objectives

To meet our duties under the Equality Act 2010, Barnsley Academy has set the following Equality Objectives:

  1. To develop Character Education by embedding the United Learning Pupil Charter, ensuring all students build confidence, resilience and a strong sense of moral purpose.

  2. To further embed the values of the Academy, particularly by expanding opportunities for students to give service to others within the school and wider community.

  3. To further develop leadership opportunities for students, actively encouraging participation from those with protected characteristics as well as those without.

  4. To use performance data to monitor the progress and participation of student groups, including those with protected characteristics. Where any group is underrepresented or disadvantaged, action plans will be implemented to address this.

  5. To ensure students feel represented within our curriculum, maximising opportunities to promote diversity, cultural awareness and the development of cultural capital.

Our Commitment

Barnsley Academy is committed to:

  • Creating an environment where diversity is embraced
  • Challenging stereotypes and tackling discrimination
  • Ensuring all policies and practices promote fairness and equality
  • Working closely with parents, carers and the wider community
  • Monitoring progress to ensure all students have equal opportunities

Equality and diversity are not just policies at Barnsley Academy – they are part of our culture, our values and our daily practice.

About Us

Access to the Curriculum

At Barnsley Academy, we believe all children have an equal right to access every area of the curriculum. No student should ever be treated less favourably or denied opportunities because of a protected characteristic. We are committed to ensuring that every learner can participate fully in lessons, enrichment opportunities and wider school life.

We recognise that some students may require reasonable adjustments or personalised support to meet their individual needs. Where needed, we make appropriate concessions such as adapted resources, additional adult support or alternative approaches to ensure our curriculum remains inclusive, ambitious and accessible to all.

Access to the Physical Environment

Barnsley Academy is committed to providing a physical environment that is accessible, safe and welcoming for every student, staff member and visitor.

Our facilities include:

  • A wet room with hoist and therapy bed
  • Accessible toilets
  • Ramps and lift access around key areas of the building

Students with additional medical needs have a personalised care plan, and those with SEND or disabilities may have a Personalised Plan to ensure their needs are fully met. We continually review our provision to remove barriers and improve accessibility across the site.

Access to Written Information

We aim to make written information clear, accessible and available to all members of our community.

Parents and carers can access a wide range of documents on our school website, including:

  • Policies
  • Ofsted reports
  • School prospectus and key information
  • Equality and Diversity documentation

These materials can also be provided on request.

Information relating to individual students is confidential and handled in line with data protection legislation. Parents and carers have the right to access information held about their child and may request this at any time.